Joseph s



(NoMoael.) I y J. S. BURNING..

Post .Hole Auger. No. 231,775. Patented Aug. 31.18780.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

JOSEPH S. BURNING, OF ALLEGHENY, ASSIGNOR OF TWOTHIRDS OF HIS RIGHT TO RICHARD S. ROBERTSON, OF PITTSBURG, PA.

POST-HOLE AUGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,775, dated August 31 1880.A

Application filed June 18, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH S. DUENING, of Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Post-Hole Angers. whereof the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view of the blank for bucket. Figs. 2 and 3 are, respectively, a side elevation and bottom view of the finished bucket. Fig. et is a perspective viewof the entire auger ready for use. Fig. 5 shows the transformation into a root-chopper or ramnier. Fig. 6 shows parts in detail.

This invention relates to that class of devices known as post-hole angers; 7 and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

More specifically, myinvention is as follows: I takea piece of sheet metal, (preferably steel,) and cut or stamp it of the form shown in Fig. 1. I next bend this till the ends meet, thus forming what I term the spring-bucket A. Then I bend the projections a a inwardly to form cutting-lips, their cutting-edges being sharpened either before or after bending. The projections a c or cutters are opposite each other, and, by preference, so bent that they project beyond the periphery ofthe bucket, so that they will cut the earth away and leave suflicient clearance for the bucket A to move freely. Between the cutters a, a the projection b is bent down inwardly to form an apron for the reception ot' the cuttings passing oft' the cutter or blade a a.

VThe projections c c', which are at the opposite ends of the blank, meet, when bent down,

to form the double apron shown. The object of the two-part apron cc is to be found in the description ot' the operation of parts.

The holes e, punched in the blank, are for the attachment by rivets of the yoke B, as shown. Yoke'B has a threaded socket, f, into which screws the rod g, which is threaded at both ends, as shown in the drawings. On the upper end of rod g is screwed the T-socket h, through whose lateral branch passes a handle, i, for operating the auger.

Besides these devices, I construct a socketchisel, H, and a rainmer, I or J, both of which are gaged to lit on the threaded handle or rod g, as shown.

Thus constructed, the operations are as follows: Rod g being screwed into socket j', and handle t' placed in socket h, I proceed to bore the hole by rotating the auger. Gutters a a loosen the soil, which, by the continued rotation of the au ger, passes over onto the inclined aprons b c c. By continuing the rotation the soil previously cut is forced by the fresh cuttin gs upwardly into the bucket A. The strain on the blade a causes the bucket to slightly separate at the line where the ends of the blank meet, thus causing the bucket to assume the condition of a distended spring having an acquired retractile force. The bucket gradually becomes filled with the cuttings, and then the rotary strain is relaxed by stopping the inotion. As soon as this strain is released the elastic force of the bucket asserts itself, and it is contracted, thus tightly clasping the contents and allowing their easy withdrawal from the hole without waste or spilling. In this expansion of the bucket the lips or aprons cc separate, so that the wideopening is compensated for which would otherwise exist on that side between the cutters a a. The latter and the apron are so cut as to length that when bent inwardly, as described, they leave a central opening for the passage of stones, &c., into the bucket. The cutters a c and the aprons b c c are so inclined relatively as to leave the greatest possible opening between the edge ot' a cutter and the apron preceding it. The edges also are so inclined as to cause a tendency to roll toward the center of any stone or obstruction which may refuse to pass the cutter, so that it will eventually gain an entrance to the bucket through the central opening. Thence it is prevented from falling, in withdrawing the auger, by the contraction ot' the spring-bucket. In case a root is in the wayI withdraw the auger, take oft' the bucket, and substitute the socket-chisel H, which I can then use to cut off the roots or remove a bulky obstruction. Afterhavingboredtheholetothe desired depth I insert the post and detach the bucket and handle, with its T-socket h. Then IOO fitting on the rammer I or J, I have at once a complete tool for firmly planting the post.

The ram mer may have a round or oval head,

' or a wedge-head, as shown in the drawings.

The parts h, I, and J are small, and can be conveniently carried in the pocket, or tied on rod g, as desired.

In this way I produce a complete device, presenting several tools in one-apost-hole auger, a root-cutter, or a rammer, just as either is Wanted.

The peculiar arrangement of the cutters and central opening will allow the bucket to receive a comparatively large stone, which is a great advantage.

I do not Wish to be understood as claiming herein the devices illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. I have shown and described them to indicate convenient uses of parts pertaining to the posthole digger proper. While the parts h I J are not parts of the boring-tool, they are of value in the ope-rations for which the boring tool or bucket is intended. I reserve the right to embrace these parts in another application.

I claim as my inventionl. The post-hole auger comprising the cylindrical split bucket A, cutters a af, and aprons b c c', all constructed of a single piece of sheet metal, substantially as shown.

2. The posthole auger comprising the cylindrical split bucket A, cutters a a', and aprons b c c', saidr cutters and aprons converging to and forming a central opening for the passage of large stones, 85e., substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand.

JOSEPH S. BURNING.

Witnesses T. J. MCTIGHE, J oHN M. PATTERSON. 

